WAS SENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND. YEAH. IN THAT LETTER FROM JULY, DRUMMOND EVEN SAID HIS OWN OFFICE STRUGGLED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ED REGARDING THOSE REQUESTS. WALTERS TELLING THE AG’S OFFICE HE HAD INHERITED A BACKLOG FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DESPITE HAVING BEEN IN OFFICE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW. THIS WAS THE LETTER SENT ON JULY 16TH BY OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL GETNER DRUMMOND. DRUMMOND TELLING SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS HE HAD RECEIVED, QUOTE, AN ALARMING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS CLAIMING UNANSWERED OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS. DRUMMOND CONTINUED, NOTING THAT HIS OFFICE HAS ALSO STRUGGLED TO CONTACT STAFF AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT AT TIMES THE AG’S OFFICE HAS BEEN IGNORED. DRUMMOND, CALLING OSD’S INACTION UNACCEPTABLE. DRUMMOND MAKING CLEAR THAT WALTERS, THE AGENCY AND HIS STAFF COULD FACE CIVIL LITIGATION OR CRIMINAL LIABILITY IF THEY DON’T ANSWER THE REQUESTS. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, ON AUGUST NINTH, WALTERS RESPONDED BUT POINTED THE FINGER AT THE PREVIOUS OSD ADMINISTRATION, CLAIMING THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT WAS UNDERSTAFFED WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE AND FACED A BACKLOG. NOW, HE SAYS HE IS HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS THOSE DELAYS, BUT MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR OPEN RECORDS. WALTERS ALSO ARGUING THAT HIS STAFF HAS MAINTAINED CONTACT WITH THE AG’S OFFICE, OSD ISSUING A STATEMENT THIS EVENING TELLING ME OSD HAS BEEN INUNDATED WITH REQUESTS FAR IN EXCESS OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS THAT IN 2023 THERE WERE MORE REQUESTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE LAST ADMINISTRATION COMBINED, WALTERS GOING AS FAR TO ACCUSED THE MEDIA OF WEAPONIZING THE OPEN RECORDS PROCESS, REPORTING LIVE
State Superintendent Ryan Walters, OSDE face pressure over open records delays
In a letter from July, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said his own office struggled to get in touch with the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding those requests
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Updated: 6:28 PM CDT Aug 12, 2024
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters has faced increased pressure from Oklahoma's top lawyer over delayed open records request. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppIn a letter from July, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said his own office struggled to get in touch with the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding those requests. Walters told the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office that he had inherited a backlog from the previous administration, despite having been in office for nearly two years now. In the July 16 letter, Drummond told Walters that he had received an "alarming number of complaints from media organizations claiming unanswered open records requests." The attorney general also said that his office was ignored at times by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The attorney general called the department's inaction "unacceptable." Drummond also made it clear that Walters, the agency and his staff could face civil litigation or criminal liability if they don't answer the requests. About a month later, on Aug. 9, Walters responded, but he pointed the finger at the previous Oklahoma State Department of Education administration, claiming the records department was understaffed when he took office and faced a backlog. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Now, he said he is hiring additional staff to not only address the backlog but meet the increased demand for open records. Walters also argued that his staff had maintained contact with the Attorney General's Office. The agency issued a statement on Monday evening, telling KOCO 5 that the Oklahoma State Department of Education has been inundated with requests far in excess of previous administrations. In 2023, the agency said there were more requests than the last two years of the previous administration combined. Walters went on to accuse the media of weaponizing the open records process. Top Headlines 4 juveniles arrested after leading Oklahoma City police on chase Fly like Iron Man. Join a battle in Wakanda. Here are the major theme park projects Disney has announced Cleveland County teenager escapes floodwaters after truck was swept away Fourth victim in Sundance Airport plane crash identified as 68-year-old American gymnast Jordan Chiles must return bronze medal after court mandates score change, IOC says
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters has faced increased pressure from Oklahoma's top lawyer over delayed open records request.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
In a letter from July, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said his own office struggled to get in touch with the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding those requests.
Walters told the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office that he had inherited a backlog from the previous administration, despite having been in office for nearly two years now.
In the July 16 letter, Drummond told Walters that he had received an "alarming number of complaints from media organizations claiming unanswered open records requests." The attorney general also said that his office was ignored at times by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
The attorney general called the department's inaction "unacceptable."
Drummond also made it clear that Walters, the agency and his staff could face civil litigation or criminal liability if they don't answer the requests.
About a month later, on Aug. 9, Walters responded, but he pointed the finger at the previous Oklahoma State Department of Education administration, claiming the records department was understaffed when he took office and faced a backlog.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Now, he said he is hiring additional staff to not only address the backlog but meet the increased demand for open records. Walters also argued that his staff had maintained contact with the Attorney General's Office.
The agency issued a statement on Monday evening, telling KOCO 5 that the Oklahoma State Department of Education has been inundated with requests far in excess of previous administrations. In 2023, the agency said there were more requests than the last two years of the previous administration combined.
Walters went on to accuse the media of weaponizing the open records process.
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